Two-Piece Tarp Fastener Device

ABSTRACT

A two-piece tarp fastener device for fastening tarps together includes a male coupler and a female coupler. The male coupler comprises includes a rod that has a first end and a second end. A knob is coupled to the first end of the rod. A pin is positioned in the rod proximate to the second end. The pin has opposing ends that extend from an outer surface of the rod. The female coupler comprises includes a tube that has a first terminus and a second terminus. The tube is hollow and complimentary to the rod. A button is coupled to the first terminus of the tube. A pair of slots, complimentary to the pin, is opposingly positioned in a wall of the tube. The slots extend from the second terminus to proximate to the first terminus. Each slot has a channel that extends transversely from a respective bottom of the slot.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to fastener devices and more particularlypertains to a new fastener device for fastening tarps together.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above bygenerally comprising a male coupler and a female coupler. The malecoupler comprises a rod that has a first end and a second end. A knob iscoupled to the first end of the rod. A pin is positioned in the rodproximate to the second end. The pin has opposing ends that extend froman outer surface of the rod. The female coupler comprises a tube thathas a first terminus and a second terminus. The tube is hollow andcomplimentary to the rod. A button is coupled to the first terminus ofthe tube. A pair of slots, complimentary to the pin, is opposinglypositioned in a wall of the tube. The slots extend from the secondterminus to proximate to the first terminus. Each slot has a channelthat extends transversely from a respective bottom of the slot.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the disclosure in order that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There areadditional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features ofnovelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than thoseset forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a two-piece tarp fastenerdevice according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an isometric perspective view of an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through5 thereof, a new fastener device embodying the principles and conceptsof an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by thereference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the two-piece tarp fastenerdevice 10 generally comprises a male coupler 12. The male coupler 12comprises a rod 14 that has a first end 16 and a second end 18. The rod14 is solid and circular when viewed longitudinally. A knob 20 iscoupled to the first end 16 of the rod 14. The knob 20 comprises a firstdisc 22 that has a rounded edge 24 and a flat upper surface 26. A pin 28is positioned in the rod 14 proximate to the second end 18. The pin 28has opposing ends 30 that extend from an outer surface 31 of the rod 14.The pin 28 is circular when viewed longitudinally.

The device 10 also includes a female coupler 32. The female coupler 32comprises a tube 34 that has a first terminus 36 and a second terminus38. The tube 34 is hollow and complimentary to the rod 14. The tube 34is circular when viewed longitudinally, such that the rod 14 isinsertable into the tube 34. The tube 34 is insertable through at leasttwo overlapping eyelets positioned in the user's tarps. A button 40 iscoupled to the first terminus 36 of the tube 34. The button 40 comprisesa second disc 42 that has a rounded perimeter 44 and a flat top 46. Apair of slots 48, complimentary to the pin 28 is opposingly positionedin a wall 50 of the tube 34. The slots 48 extend from the secondterminus 38 to proximate to the first terminus 36. Each the slot 48 hasa channel 52 that extends transversely from a respective bottom 54 ofthe slot 48. The channels 52 extend clockwise, such that the slots 48are L-shaped and such that the pin 28 is frictionally engagable to thechannels 52 upon clockwise rotation of the rod 14 relative to the tube34.

The first disc 22 and the second disc 42 are substantially similarlyshaped and dimensioned.

In use, each of a plurality of female couplers 56 is positionable withthe tube 34 inserted into at least two overlapping eyelets of the user'starps. Each of a plurality of male couplers 58 has a respective rod 14insertable into a respective tube 34, such that the user can impart aclockwise twisting motion to secure a respective pin 28 into arespective channel 52 to secure two or more tarps together.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodimentenabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials,shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, aredeemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by anembodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of thedisclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used inits non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word areincluded, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. Areference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not excludethe possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless thecontext clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

1. A two-piece tarp fastener device comprising: a male coupler, saidmale coupler comprising: a rod having a first end and a second end, aknob, said knob comprising a first disc, said knob being coupled to saidfirst end of said rod, said knob tapering from said first disc to saidfirst end of said rod, and a pin, said pin being positioned in said rodproximate to said second end, said pin having opposing ends extendingfrom an outer surface of said rod; and a female coupler, said femalecoupler comprising: a tube, said tube having a first terminus and asecond terminus, said tube being hollow and complimentary to said rod, abutton, said button comprising a second disc, said button being coupledto said first terminus of said tube, said button tapering from saidsecond disc to said first terminus of said tube, and a pair of slots,said slots being complimentary to said pin, said slots being opposing,said slots being positioned in a wall of said tube, said slots extendingfrom said second terminus to proximate to said first terminus, each saidslot having a channel extending transversely from a respective bottom ofsaid slot.
 2. The device of claim 1, further including said rod beingsolid.
 3. The device of claim 1, further including said rod and saidtube being circular when viewed longitudinally.
 4. The device of claim1, further including said pin being circular when viewed longitudinally.5. The device of claim 1, further including said first disc and saidsecond disc being substantially similarly shaped and dimensioned.
 6. Thedevice of claim 1, further including said first disc having a roundededge.
 7. The device of claim 6, further including said knob having aflat upper surface.
 8. The device of claim 1, further including saidsecond disc having a rounded perimeter.
 9. The device of claim 8,further including said button having a flat top.
 10. The device of claim1, further including said channels extending clockwise, such that saidslots are L-shaped and wherein said pins are frictionally engagable tosaid channels upon clockwise rotation of said rod relative to said tube.11. A two-piece tarp fastener device comprising: a male coupler, saidmale coupler comprising: a rod having a first end and a second end, saidrod being solid, said rod being circular when viewed longitudinally, aknob, said knob being coupled to said first end of said rod, said knobcomprising a first disc, said first disc having a rounded edge and aflat upper surface, said knob tapering from said first disc to saidfirst end of said rod, and a pin, said pin being positioned in said rodproximate to said second end, said pin having opposing ends extendingfrom an outer surface of said rod, said pin being circular when viewedlongitudinally; a female coupler, said female coupler comprising: atube, said tube having a first terminus and a second terminus, said tubebeing hollow and complimentary to said rod, such that said tube isinsertable through at least two overlapping eyelets positioned in theuser's tarps, and wherein said rod is insertable into said tube, saidtube being circular when viewed longitudinally, a button, said buttonbeing coupled to said first terminus of said tube, said buttoncomprising a second disc, said second disc having a rounded perimeterand a flat top, said button tapering from said second disc to said firstterminus of said tube, and a pair of slots, said slots beingcomplimentary to said pin, said slots being opposing, said slots beingpositioned in a wall of said tube, said slots extending from said secondterminus to proximate to said first terminus, each said slot having achannel extending transversely from a respective bottom of said slot,said channels extending clockwise, such that said slots are L-shaped andwherein said pins are frictionally engagable to said channels uponclockwise rotation of said rod relative to said tube; said first discand said second disc being substantially similarly shaped anddimensioned; and wherein each of a plurality of said female couplers ispositionable with said tube inserted into at least two overlappingeyelets of the user's tarps, wherein each of a plurality of malecouplers is insertable into a respective said tube, such that the usercan impart a clockwise twisting motion to secure a respective said rodinto a respective said channel to secure two or more tarps together.